What happened?
On Thursday, the Defence Ministry established a high-powered committee, led by the Director General (Acquisition), to conduct a thorough review of the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020. This initiative, following the declaration of 2025 as the ‘year of reforms’, aims to streamline the acquisition process for the armed forces’ speedy modernisation and to enhance self-reliance in the defence sector. The committee includes senior ministry officials, and representatives from the defence industry and academia. The panel has initiated consultations with stakeholders and invited suggestions until July 5. Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh stated on May 30 that the DAP 2020 is being revisited to reflect current realities and shorten the weapon procurement cycle by over a year.
Why it matters to India
This review is strategically important for India as it directly addresses the timely fulfillment of operational requirements and modernisation needs of the armed forces, crucial for national security. By promoting technology infusion through indigenously designed and developed systems, it aims to achieve India’s ‘atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) goals. Furthermore, the initiative seeks to boost the ‘Make-in-India’ campaign by encouraging defence manufacturing through joint ventures and technology transfer for the private sector, and by attracting foreign original equipment manufacturers to invest in India. This aligns with India’s ambition to establish itself as a global defence manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub. The focus on promoting design and development in both public and private sectors, including startups and innovators, will foster indigenous technology infusion. The move to shorten the weapon procurement cycle and shift towards a competitive pricing model is vital for accelerating the modernisation of the armed forces and ensuring a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of addressing new challenges.